Attracting new, qualified faces into the fresh produce industry has proved difficult in the UK in recent years and formed the basis for many a debate at industry gatherings.

The PMS is using its own, high profile conference and exhibition to launch an initiative that aims to introduce likely candidates to the fresh produce arena, with a view to nurturing their interest and educating them further about the products and, perhaps as importantly, the people involved.

October’s Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit in Anaheim will be the launching pad for a major initiative to highlight career opportunities in the produce industry. The first group of 24 collegiate food and marketing students and their faculty advisors from six leading schools will attend Fresh Summit through the sponsorship of the Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways Fund.

Designed as an opportunity to give students an understanding of how the produce industry works, as well as to share with them the numerous career options the industry offers, the Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways Fund will allow students to participate in Fresh Summit’s workshops and sessions, tour the exhibition, and meet with PMA and industry leaders through a targeted mentoring process.

The Fund was announced last October during Fresh Summit 2003 in Orlando by PMA leaders and the Pack family.

Former PMA director Jay Pack will be adding more than his family’s financial support to the program. “The Pack and Rutchik families have been involved in the fresh produce industry for many years, and we know first-hand of the importance and value in bringing new talent and fresh ideas to the workforce,” Pack said.

“Both Ruthie and I are excited at this unique opportunity to help bring the country’s most promising food and agriculture students to Fresh Summit so they can see and learn about all that the produce industry has to offer. Fresh Summit brings the produce world together in one place and I can’t think of a better way to showcase what we can offer to the workforce of tomorrow. PMA is giving our industry’s leadership the chance to spread the excitement a career in produce has to offer and I can’t wait to take part in that myself.”

Bryan Silbermann, PMA president, said: “Thanks to the generosity of Jay and Ruthie Pack, PMA has this wonderful chance to help shape the future of the produce industry by bringing the best and brightest students from across the United States to Fresh Summit.

“PMA’s leadership has identified ‘attracting talented people’ as one of the key long-term challenges facing our industry worldwide. This program, along with PMA’s new student membership initiatives, will start to meet that challenge and enhance the produce industry’s visibility in the eyes of future leaders.

“It will also raise PMA’s profile in the academic arena as the definitive industry source for new ideas and the latest produce marketing information. The Career Pathways Fund is one more way PMA is adding value to our membership and leveraging the power of our network to build for the future.”

Institutions participating in the Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways Fund at Fresh Summit 2004 include Cornell University, the University of California at Davis, Michigan State University, Texas A&M, California Polytechnic State University, and St. Joseph’s University.

Four students from each school will participate, along with a faculty member. In addition, members of the PMA Board of Directors, as well as PMA Leadership Symposium attendees, will serve as mentors to the students while at Fresh Summit. More information about the students will be available closer to the date of Fresh Summit.

The Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition will be October 15-19 in Anaheim, California.